A face lift, technically referred to as rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is designed to firm and smooth a person's skin. This will provide a youthful, fresh appearance. Throughout the life of an individual, the sun's radiation, gravity, stress, along with many other factors will cause for their skin to sag and fit more loosely. Particularly around the jaw line, but areas around the face and neck are prone to the aging process. Wrinkles and other signs of aging can make a person "feel older" than he or she really is even though the changes will be gradual.

The surgery used for a facelift involves the realignment and contraction of neck and facial skin. In some instances it may also involve the removal of excess fat deposits. A face lift is frequently performed along with other cosmetic facial surgery procedures. It is able to be performed on any person who is showing signs of aging. However, most patients are in their forties or older when they choose to receive a facelift. Typical reasons that a person would consider a facelift include sagging fat, skin, and muscles in the face and neck, a sagging jaw line, extra fat and skin on the neck, and crease lines along the chin, mouth, and nose.

The standard face lift surgery usually involves creating small incisions just inside the hairline. The incisions will follow the contour in front of the ear, and continue under the earlobe all the way to the backside of the ear and to the lower scalp. Fat and tissue deposits are separated, the skin is tightened and stretched, and any extra skin is removed by the plastic surgeon. If the patient's neck line requires any attention, there will be an additional incision made under the chin and the same procedure will be followed again. Small stitches will be used to close the incisions and also to reduce any chance of scarring. Also, metal clips or staples may be used at the hairline.

The facelift procedure may take several hours or longer to perform depending on whether you have chosen to have other cosmetic surgery procedures performed at the same time. Some people choose to have their other surgeries performed at different times.There are various face lift techniques that can be employed. Any patient can talk to their plastic surgeon about which technique is best for them.

Right after the procedure is performed, the face will be fitted with bandages in order to reduce the swelling and decrease the recovery time. Usually, post operative care will call for a lot of rest and limited movement. The clips, stitches, and staples are usually removed within a week.

Dave Stringham, the President of LookingYourBest.com writes about plastic surgery in Washington DC and cosmetic surgery procedures like washington dc face lift, rhinoplasty, abdominoplasty, liposuction, breast augmentation, and brachioplasty.

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